In the excavation pit of the future inclusive sports centre in Petropavl, human remains were discovered — skulls of adults and children, fragments of coffins and objects connected with burials. Work on the site was halted on 11 September, after which volunteers began collecting the remains from the soil.
WHAT WAS FOUND IN THE EXCAVATION PIT
As reported by Hronika.kz, after the start of earthworks, fragments of human skeletons began to be brought to the Church of All Saints. When the church ministers arrived at the site, they saw several rows of old graves.
Volunteer Oleg Antonov suggested that there could be around 70–75 burials on the site. He noted that it is difficult to establish the exact number of people, since remains continue to be uncovered in the soil.
Besides bones, half-rotted coffin boards, copper body crosses, a mother-of-pearl button and a five-kopeck coin from 1924 were found at the site. Among the finds were a shin bone of an adult and teeth, presumably a child's.
WHAT THE SITE IS CONNECTED WITH
Next to the site is the Church of All Saints, built in 1890–1894 as a cemetery church. According to some data, between 10,000 and 15,000 people could have been buried in the old cemetery located here.
Information about the burials on the territory has been preserved only partially. In particular, the graves of members of merchant families and of soldiers who died of wounds in the evacuation hospitals of Petropavl during the Great Patriotic War are mentioned here. According to old residents, the last burials may have taken place in 1950.
REMAINS WERE FOUND HERE BEFORE AS WELL
The current find was not the first. In the early 2000s, during the construction of residential buildings on Zhambyl Street, human remains were also extracted from the ground.
In 2008, bones were discovered during the laying of networks to an entertainment complex. Parishioners of the church collected the remains that were found and reburied them, erecting a memorial cross.
In 2010, part of the former cemetery was to be used for the construction of a shopping and entertainment complex. After the rector of the church appealed to the akimat, the prosecutor's office and other authorities, construction on the site was not permitted.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE CURRENT SITE
This year, on the territory of the former young naturalists' station on Altynsarin Street, a plot with an area of 0.526876 ha was designated for the construction of an inclusive sports centre. The station occupied 2.2 ha, and around 700 children were registered there.
According to the current detailed planning project, the plot belongs to the territory of recreational designation. It is noted that the construction of the sports centre corresponds to this wording.
After the discovery of the remains, they began to be collected and handed over to the church. The akim's press service reported that, after obtaining permission, the remains were reburied by a specialised organisation. If remains are discovered again, reburial must be carried out once more.
WHAT THE POLICE SAID
According to the Police Department of the North Kazakhstan Region (DP SKO), material has been registered regarding the discovery of the remains. The department reported that no signs of a criminal nature were established.
An investigation has been ordered to establish the origin of the remains and other circumstances of their discovery. Final conclusions will be drawn based on the results of the investigation.